Academic health department (AHD) partnerships – formal partnerships between health departments and academic institutions – have the potential to enhance the capacity of the organizations involved and offer a variety of benefits. AHD partnerships help strengthen the connection between public health practice and academia. AHDs enable the practice and academic communities to work together to develop current and future workforce members, facilitate community-focused research, improve services, and achieve Public Health Accreditation Board and Council on Education for Public Health accreditation. AHD partnerships go beyond traditional public health disciplines and encourage collaboration with all disciplines in order to meet the complex needs of the community.

 

On December 2-3, 2019, the Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas, NV will host the first-ever Western Regional Academic Health Department Summit. This summit will examine model AHD practices, barriers, challenges, and processes; strengthen current AHD partnerships; and assist in creating new partnerships. Kathleen Amos, MLIS, Assistant Director, Academic/Practice Linkages, Public Health Foundation, will participate in the summit as a keynote speaker on Day 1. Current AHD partnerships will offer varying perspectives to assist potential AHDs.

 

The summit is open to all in the Western US (Colorado and west) at no cost. Registration closed November 15, 2019. Additional information is available at https://ahdsummit.eventbrite.com or by contacting Laura Valentino, MPH, MEd, CHES, Academic Affairs Coordinator, Southern Nevada Health District, at [email protected] or 702-759-0609.